What Happens When You Stop Waiting? Singer/Songwriter & Actor TT on Leadership, Resilience & Purpose

What happens when you stop waiting and start pursuing what truly matters? On this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with TT for a deeply personal conversation about resilience, leadership, purpose, and finding the courage to follow a new path. From growing up in Colorado with a Broadway singer and actress as his mother, to facing a rare kidney disease at age six and the bullying and self-doubt that followed, TT shares how some of his earliest experiences shaped the person and leader he would become. His journey then took him from pursuing music in Los Angeles to building an extraordinary business career, including becoming one of the youngest vice presidents at News Corp and co-founding Overture, the company that pioneered paid search advertising. TT also opens up about how a second-stage 3 kidney disease diagnosis prompted him to return to music and pursue the creative work that had always been part of him. Today, he is building a career across music, songwriting, acting, and film, using storytelling to explore identity, resilience, connection, and choosing your own path. Throughout the conversation, he shares lessons on listening, empathy, helping people connect their work to a greater purpose, and why storytelling is such a powerful leadership tool. And as his definition of success has evolved from promotions and money to relationships, integrity, and family, TT offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to create a life and a legacy that truly matters. Chapters 00:00 Intro to Expressions of Leadership & TT's Journey of Leadership and Resilience 02:41 Childhood Illness, Resilience and Bullying 06:13 From Music Dreams to a Career in Business 11:54 Learning Leadership at News Corp 13:09 Overture: Building and Scaling a Breakthrough Company 18:53 The Power of Listening and Learning 23:48 A Diagnosis Sparks a Creative Journey 29:26 Music, Acting and the Power of Storytelling 37:53 Leadership Lessons That Transcend Industries 42:07 Rethinking Success, Growth and Purpose 44:47 Risk, Timing and the Mentors Who Matter 48:17 Future Projects, Purpose and Legacy 51:39 Wisdom & Whimsy Learn more about TT and everything he is up to at https://www.ttmusicstudio.com/. You can also follow him on Instagram @OffficialTT.music and on Facebook @TTMusic Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada.